US20230387440A1 - Membrane-electrode unit for an electrochemical cell, and process for manufacturing a membrane-electrode unit - Google Patents

Membrane-electrode unit for an electrochemical cell, and process for manufacturing a membrane-electrode unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US20230387440A1
US20230387440A1 US18/248,602 US202118248602A US2023387440A1 US 20230387440 A1 US20230387440 A1 US 20230387440A1 US 202118248602 A US202118248602 A US 202118248602A US 2023387440 A1 US2023387440 A1 US 2023387440A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
membrane
electrode unit
film
adhesive
spacing
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Pending
Application number
US18/248,602
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English (en)
Inventor
Andreas Ringk
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Assigned to ROBERT BOSCH GMBH reassignment ROBERT BOSCH GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RINGK, Andreas
Publication of US20230387440A1 publication Critical patent/US20230387440A1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
    • H01M8/0273—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1004—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
    • H01M8/028—Sealing means characterised by their material
    • H01M8/0284—Organic resins; Organic polymers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0271—Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
    • H01M8/0286—Processes for forming seals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
    • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
    • H01M8/1069—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the manufacturing processes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
    • H01M8/242—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M2008/1095—Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • a fuel cell is an electrochemical cell comprising two electrodes separated from one another by means of an ion-conducting electrolyte.
  • the fuel cell converts the energy of a chemical reaction of a fuel directly into electricity using an oxidizing agent.
  • Various types of fuel cells exist.
  • a specific fuel cell type is the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEM-FC).
  • PEM-FC polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
  • two porous electrodes having a catalyst layer abut on a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM).
  • PEM-FC further comprises gas diffusion layers (GDL) which border, on both sides, the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and the two porous electrodes having a catalyst layer.
  • GDL gas diffusion layers
  • the PEM, the two electrodes having the catalyst layer, and optionally also the two GDL can form a so-called membrane-electrode unit (MEA) in the active region of the PEM-FC.
  • MEA membrane-electrode unit
  • Two opposing bipolar plates (halves) in turn border the MEA on both sides.
  • a fuel cell stack is constructed of MEAs and bipolar plates alternately arranged one above the other.
  • an anode plate of a bipolar plate a distribution of the fuel, in particular hydrogen, takes place
  • a cathode plate of the bipolar plate a distribution of the oxidizing agent, in particular air/oxygen, takes place.
  • the MEA can be enclosed in a frame-like opening of two films arranged on one another.
  • the two films of this frame structure are made of the same material, e.g., polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
  • the two films formed from the same material may have dispensable redundant properties, such as an electrical insulating capability (electrically insulating) and/or an oxygen-tightness of each of the two films.
  • DE 101 40 684 A1 discloses a membrane-electrode unit for a fuel cell, containing a layer arrangement consisting of an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a membrane arranged between them, wherein a polymeric material is applied to an upper and a lower side of the layer arrangement.
  • An object of the present invention is to prevent adhesive from being squeezed out of the frame structure of a membrane-electrode unit and preferably to obtain a defined height of the frame structure.
  • the membrane-electrode unit comprises a frame structure for accommodating a membrane coated with electrodes.
  • the frame structure comprises a first film and a second film, wherein the first film is bonded to the second film in a bonding region by means of an adhesive. At least on one of the two films, a spacing structure is formed in the bonding region.
  • the spacing structure is in direct contact with the adhesive, thus serving the purpose of adhesion, but is stiff enough to effectively prevent the adhesive from being squeezed out of the frame structure.
  • the spacing structure is thus also a mechanical stiffener of the film.
  • the modulus of elasticity of the material of the spacing structure is at least 10 times as large as the modulus of elasticity of the adhesive.
  • the spacing structure preferably has a stiff geometry and is, in particular, honeycombed. As a result, the clamping forces of the cell stack can be transferred via the comparatively stiff spacing structure, and excessive deformation of the adhesive and resultant squeezing-out are prevented.
  • the spacing structure can thus also set a closely tolerable height of the frame structure.
  • the spacing structure thus sets a defined spacing between the two films and prevents further compression of the frame structure during the stacking process, and thus squeezing-out of the adhesive. A defined height of the electrochemical cell is thus robustly maintained.
  • the spacing structure forms adhesive pockets in which the adhesive is virtually volumetrically trapped.
  • the volume of adhesive per area unit is thereby defined so that the height can be set particularly robustly.
  • the membrane-electrode unit may comprise a membrane, in particular a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM).
  • PEM polymer electrolyte membrane
  • the membrane-electrode unit may further comprise two porous electrodes each having a catalyst layer, wherein said electrodes are in particular arranged on the PEM and border it on both sides. This may in particular be referred to as an MEA-3.
  • the membrane-electrode unit may comprise two gas diffusion layers. These gas diffusion layers may in particular border the MEA-3 on both sides. This may in particular be referred to as an MEA-5.
  • the electrochemical cell may be a fuel cell, an electrolysis cell or a battery cell.
  • the fuel cell is in particular a PEM-FC (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell).
  • a cell stack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged one above the other.
  • the frame structure in particular has a frame shape.
  • the frame structure is preferably circumferential.
  • a membrane and the two electrodes can thus be particularly advantageously enclosed in the frame structure.
  • the frame structure in cross section is in particular U-shaped or Y-shaped for accommodating the membrane and the two electrodes are formed between the legs of the U-shape or Y-shape.
  • the adhesive preferably seals the membrane-electrode unit toward the outside, glues the two films to one another and fixes the membrane with the two electrodes in the frame structure.
  • the adhesive can further preferably be electrically insulating.
  • the frame structure can thus be particularly advantageously electrically insulating and an unwanted flow of current in an inactive region of the electrochemical cell is particularly advantageously kept low, in particular prevented.
  • the spacing structure(s) can also be insulating, in particular electrically insulating so that an unwanted flow of current is prevented.
  • a gas diffusion layer is attached to the frame structure by means of a further adhesive.
  • the films each likewise comprise at least one spacing structure in the direction of the further adhesive.
  • the spacing structures are preferably designed according to any of the above-described embodiments.
  • the invention also comprises a process for manufacturing a membrane-electrode unit according to any of the above embodiments.
  • the process comprises the following process steps:
  • the spacing structure is applied to the first film by means of heated embossing rollers.
  • the curing of the adhesive advantageously takes place while applying a compressive load.
  • the two films are glued, they are preferably glued only at the lower leg of the Y-shape, i.e., in the bonding region; the membrane is arranged between the two other legs.
  • the membrane can also be glued to both films.
  • FIG. 1 a membrane-electrode unit from the prior art, wherein only the essential regions are shown.
  • FIG. 2 a membrane-electrode unit according to the invention, wherein only the essential regions are shown.
  • FIG. 3 schematically the manufacturing of a spacing structure in a film for a membrane-electrode unit, wherein only the essential regions are shown.
  • FIG. 1 shows a vertical section of a membrane-electrode unit 1 of an electrochemical cell 100 , in particular of a fuel cell, from the prior art, wherein only the essential regions are shown.
  • the membrane-electrode unit 1 comprises a membrane 2 , by way of example a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), and two porous electrodes 3 and 4 each having a catalyst layer, wherein the electrodes 3 and 4 are each arranged on one side of the membrane 2 .
  • the electrochemical cell 100 further comprises in particular two gas diffusion layers 5 and 6 , which, depending on the embodiment, may also belong to the membrane-electrode unit 1 .
  • the membrane-electrode unit 1 is circumferentially surrounded by a frame structure 10 , this is also referred to as a sub-gasket.
  • the frame structure 10 serves to provide stiffness and tightness to the membrane-electrode unit 1 and is a non-active region of the electrochemical cell 100 .
  • the frame structure 10 is in particular U-shaped or Y-shaped in section, wherein a first leg of the U-shaped frame portion is formed by a first film 11 from a first material W 1 and a second leg of the U-shaped frame portion is formed by a second film 12 from a second material W 2 .
  • the first film 11 and the second film 12 are glued together in a bonding region 15 by means of an adhesive 13 made of a third material W 3 .
  • the first material W 1 and the second material W 2 are often identical.
  • the two gas diffusion layers 5 and 6 are in turn each arranged on one side of the frame structure 10 by means of a further adhesive 14 , usually such that they are in contact with one electrode 3 , 4 each via the active surface of the electrochemical cell 100 .
  • the films 11 , 12 are now provided with a spacing structure 20 at least in the bonding region 15 so that a defined spacing between these two films 11 , 12 is maintained and the adhesive 13 is prevented from being squeezed out.
  • the films 11 , 12 and the spacing structure 20 are significantly stiffer, preferably 10 times as stiff as the cured adhesive 13 so that the spacing structure 20 can transfer corresponding pretensioning forces of the cell stack without being deformed too much.
  • FIG. 2 shows spacing structures 20 which are formed on the two films 11 , 12 in the direction of the adhesive 13 .
  • the spacing structures 20 have the shape of bars 21 , which are arranged to one another such that they form adhesive pockets 13 a , in which the adhesive 13 is enclosed.
  • the height of the bars 21 of the spacing structure 20 corresponds to the height to which the adhesive 13 is to be compressed during the clamping of the cell stack. Further compressing is avoided due to the comparatively high stiffness of the spacing structure 20 or its bars 21 .
  • the spacing structures 20 transfer the clamping force of the cell stack in the compressed state from the first film 11 to the second film 12 and maintain a defined spacing of the two films 11 , 12 to one another; pushing the adhesive 13 out of the frame structure 10 is thus avoided.
  • the shapes of the spacing structures 20 may, for example, be groove-shaped or honeycombed.
  • the spacing structure 20 may be limited to the bonding region 15 or, as in FIG. 2 , may be formed over the entire surface of the films 11 , 12 .
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows the manufacturing of a film 11 , 12 with a spacing structure 20 in a perspective view.
  • the spacing structure 20 is molded or embossed into the film 11 , 12 by means of a tool 40 ; in the embodiment of FIG. 3 as a rectangular structure so that a plurality of rectangular adhesive pockets 13 a is formed.
  • the tool 40 is two-part and consists of two embossing rollers 41 , 42 , through which the film 11 , 12 runs and which have the negative shape of the spacing structure 20 .
  • the two embossing rollers 41 , 42 can be heated; this improves the formability of the films 11 , 12 because they can be heated.
  • the spacing structures 20 can be applied to the films 11 , 12 on one side or on both sides, depending on whether they are only to cooperate with the adhesive 13 between the two films 11 , 12 or also with the further adhesive 14 toward the gas diffusion layers 5 , 6 .
  • the material of the spacing structures 20 is identical to that of the associated film 11 , 12 , preferably a thermoplastic polymer, such as PEN. Furthermore, the material of the spacing structures 20 preferably has a modulus of elasticity that is at least 10 times stiffer than that of the adhesive 13 so that the spacing structures 20 can also effectively transfer the clamping forces and prevent the adhesive 13 from being squeezed out.
  • One or both films 11 , 12 can also be analogously provided with spacing structures 20 toward the further adhesive 14 , i.e., between the frame structure 10 and the two gas diffusion layers 5 , 6 .
  • the invention also comprises the manufacture of a membrane-electrode unit according to any of the embodiments described. The following manufacturing steps are carried out:
  • the spacing structure 20 is applied to the first film 11 by means of heated embossing rollers 41 , 42 , wherein an analogous spacing structure 20 can also be applied to the second film 12 .
  • the curing of the adhesive 13 advantageously takes place while applying a compressive load and/or heating.
US18/248,602 2020-10-19 2021-10-13 Membrane-electrode unit for an electrochemical cell, and process for manufacturing a membrane-electrode unit Pending US20230387440A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102020213140.6A DE102020213140A1 (de) 2020-10-19 2020-10-19 Membran-Elektroden-Einheit für eine elektrochemische Zelle und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Membran-Elektroden-Einheit
DE102020213140.6 2020-10-19
PCT/EP2021/078303 WO2022084121A1 (fr) 2020-10-19 2021-10-13 Unité membrane-électrode destinée à une cellule électrochimique, et procédé de fabrication d'une unité membrane-électrode

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US20230387440A1 true US20230387440A1 (en) 2023-11-30

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US18/248,602 Pending US20230387440A1 (en) 2020-10-19 2021-10-13 Membrane-electrode unit for an electrochemical cell, and process for manufacturing a membrane-electrode unit

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US (1) US20230387440A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN116368649A (fr)
DE (1) DE102020213140A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022084121A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10140684A1 (de) 2001-08-24 2003-03-06 Daimler Chrysler Ag Dichtungsaufbau für eine MEA und Verfahren zur Herstellung des Dichtungsaufbaus
GB0606435D0 (en) * 2006-03-31 2006-05-10 Assembly for use in a fuel cell
EP2698250A4 (fr) * 2011-04-11 2014-12-10 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Matériau de renforcement pour une pile à combustible à polymère solide, et composition cohésive/adhésive destinée à être utilisée dans celui-ci
DE102011105072B3 (de) * 2011-06-21 2012-11-15 Daimler Ag Haltevorrichtung mit einer Membran einer Membran-Elektroden-Einheit für eine Brennstoffzelle und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung
KR102602415B1 (ko) 2018-09-04 2023-11-14 현대자동차주식회사 전극막접합체

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WO2022084121A1 (fr) 2022-04-28
CN116368649A (zh) 2023-06-30
DE102020213140A1 (de) 2022-04-21

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